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I recently purchased a 2013 SH-AWD a week and a half ago and I love it. It had 155k on the clock when I bought it and there is a sticker that shows the timing belt was replaced at 86k. The other day when I backed the car out of the garage I noticed a silver dollar sized puddle of oil where the car had been and it gave me pause. Yesterday I took it to my neighbors garage where they have a lift. I THINK it's evidence of a valve cover gasket leak? I didn't have rags or brake clean when I went over there so I didn't get a chance to wipe down the block.
I noticed the oil on the oil pan and gave the plug a little tug. It was tight as can be. The oil filter is dry so it's not leaking from there. I pulled the inspection port on the flexplate/torque converter and everything seemed dry up there. I noticed last night after I got home with a friend the car smoked a bit from burning oil so I'm guessing it's either dripping on the exhaust manifold or j-pipe.
Thoughts before i purchase the stuff to replace the valve cover gaskets? Thanks!
Common leak points are oil pump, rear main seal & crank seal. For the valve cover or camshaft o ring to leak to the ground, it would leave an obvious trail and would possibly smoke too.
Well I'm still battling this. The leak has never been bad to where I'm losing a critical amount of oil, but I'm very strict on checking the level every day or so. But the smoking and the smell is awful.
What I've done so far:
Replaced both cam thrust o rings
Replaced the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals
Oil filter adapter gaskets, oil pressure switch and VTEC solenoid (all a part of that kit)
Crankshaft position sensor (which was absolutely leaking)
Worried it might be the oil pump seal or the rear main, I added some UV dye to the oil and thank goodness those ends were bone dry. But here's what I found:
This is under the car on the rear of the engine and the crankshaft position sensor is getting soaked. I suspect my rear valve cover gasket job was subpar? Is there something else it could be? If this is the case I'm fine with throwing in the towel and having a shop replace it again.
Also, why would the front valve train be so filthy and the rear be so clean?
Well I'm still battling this. The leak has never been bad to where I'm losing a critical amount of oil, but I'm very strict on checking the level every day or so. But the smoking and the smell is awful.
What I've done so far:
Replaced both cam thrust o rings
Replaced the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals
Oil filter adapter gaskets, oil pressure switch and VTEC solenoid (all a part of that kit)
Crankshaft position sensor (which was absolutely leaking)
Worried it might be the oil pump seal or the rear main, I added some UV dye to the oil and thank goodness those ends were bone dry. But here's what I found:
This is under the car on the rear of the engine and the crankshaft position sensor is getting soaked. I suspect my rear valve cover gasket job was subpar? Is there something else it could be? If this is the case I'm fine with throwing in the towel and having a shop replace it again.
Also, why would the front valve train be so filthy and the rear be so clean?
With such a huge oil leak there is no point in adding dye to the oil, you just need to wash this mess with brake cleaner, start the engine and wait for the leak to come from somewhere.
With such a huge oil leak there is no point in adding dye to the oil, you just need to wash this mess with brake cleaner, start the engine and wait for the leak to come from somewhere.
That's what I did. I used two cans of brake parts cleaner and cleaned it good. Started the car and laid under it for at least 20-30 mins watching for leaks and watched it come from somewhere in the rear upper section of the engine. The intermediate shaft and rear motor mount are in my way of visibility. I used a boroscope and couldn't find anything but my boroscope isn't great.
That's what I did. I used two cans of brake parts cleaner and cleaned it good. Started the car and laid under it for at least 20-30 mins watching for leaks and watched it come from somewhere in the rear upper section of the engine. The intermediate shaft and rear motor mount are in my way of visibility. I used a boroscope and couldn't find anything but my boroscope isn't great.
Forgive my ignorance, I just want to know before having such a task taken on. How does the oil pump gasket which is all the way on the front of the engine leak down the middle to the rear of the engine?
Bear in mind this is the area I'm finding oil dripping down when I'm laying under the car, not moving anywhere.
Forgive my ignorance, I just want to know before having such a task taken on. How does the oil pump gasket which is all the way on the front of the engine leak down the middle to the rear of the engine?
Bear in mind this is the area I'm finding oil dripping down when I'm laying under the car, not moving anywhere.
I misunderstood your first message, I thought you meant the rear bearing of the intermediate shaft. Then my condolences, because the rear О-ring above the crankshaft seal is leaking.
I did this job last winter, spent about 16 hours. I hope you have a 5 speed automatic transmission.
Last edited by altair47; Nov 17, 2024 at 07:16 AM.
